I wish I had seen this thread earlier! PLEASE DON'T USE SPRAYPAINT!!! Satin black cars are very cool to me, but there are 2 things that make them look cheezy-awful : tiger stripes and sun-fade. I have spray-bombed a few cars, and it takes more cans than you would think (around 10 for a VW, 15 for a '78 Delta 88, and 18 for a International Scout), unless you are using El-cheapo brand, there goes your budget. The sun will fade flat black with no UV protection in less than a year into dark "primer gray", worse yet, it doesn't fade evenly so you end up with a dirty gray tie-dyed car. Tiger-stripes may not show up when the paint is fresh, maybe not for a few months, but as soon as you let your guard down - BAM! you are driving a crap-mobile Joe Dirt would mock.
Fear not, Brother, there is a solution touched on by other members. $8 rustolium SATIN black in a quart can. You can thin it and spray it (it's just synth enamel) or thin it and use a closed-cell 3" roller. After you throw up in your mouth a little, hear me out. Rough-up your paint a little to give it some tooth, thin the rustolium with mineral spirits about 1:1 (doesn't have to be exact) roll on 2 coats, sand it smooth, roll on 2 more coats, sand it smooth, roll on 1 or 2 more coats and you are done. When you first roll it on, you will get millions (I mean millions) of tiny bubbles and runs. Don't worry, just soldier through. Each time you sand/paint, you are smoothing the finish and building thickness. As a bonus, it's easy to touch-up.
Another tip: I'd use a gloss black first as a sealer. Putting it on in this manner will give it a satin look, but it will not absorb moisture like a flat will. If it is still too shiney, just ad some satin black and thinner and roll it again.
The more time and elbow grease you put into it, the better it looks and it is very easy on the budget. If you want to add flames, stripes, skulls, rainbow unicorns, whatever, go ahead - you can always roll over it if it sucks.
The coolest part, to me, is the look on people's faces when you tell them that you painted it yourself, then tell them you used a roller!
